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Big Pharma Whistle Blower Fell on Hard Times

December 28, 2021

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Dan Abshear, 55, left, was making $150K as a pharma rep. He has been destitute since 2006 when he exposed his employer, Novartis, for bribing doctors to prescribe drugs. The medical profession has been corrupted which explains the scamdemic. His wife divorced him and alienated his daughter. 

Most medical doctors have been taking bribes to prescribe drugs for a long time so it's not surprising that they would fall into line when in comes to toxic and unnecessary covid vaccines. Nor is it surprising that the US Dept of Injustice would cover it up, as they did in 2006.



"After blowing the whistle, 90 percent of whistle blowers were fired or demoted.  27 percent faced lawsuits themselves.  26 percent had to seek psychiatric or physical care.  25 percent suffered substance abuse.  17 percent lost their homes.  15 percent experienced divorce.  10 percent attempted suicide.  8 percent were bankrupt.  But in spite of all of this, only 16 percent said they would not blow the whistle again."
 



Makow comment- No surprise that so few are prepared to challenge the corruption when those who do, like Dan Abshear, are abandoned to a dire fate.



"There is a pathologically intimate relationship between corporations and the U.S. government- their collusion is expressed in the revolving door. "
 
from Sept 27, 2010
by Dan Abshear

(for henrymakow.com)

In the Spring of 2006, I became a pharmaceutical corporate whistle blower.
 
In February of that year, I had recruited a law firm with experience in pharmaceutical whistle blower lawsuits in Boston, which is a top place to file and submit pharmaceutical whistle blower cases.  They agreed to represent me after I submitted a ten page document to them I composed- explaining why the wrongdoing of my employer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, needed to be addressed.  They represented me on complete contingency, which meant that they would not be paid if they did not succeed in the whistle blower lawsuit they were submitting for me.
 
The law firm submitted the whistle blower lawsuit against Novartis in April of 2006.  And it was filed under seal, which means that I and my legal council cannot discuss the case whatsoever.  It's a trick played by the D.O.J., to eliminate the possibility of media contact.
 
I made a trip to Boston in July of 2006 to be asked hundreds of questions by various relevant government entities, such as the department of health and human services.  Also, in the center of a large table in a conference room, was a phone, with numerous attorney generals from various states- all there to hear my answers to the hundreds of questions I was asked one day, for 8 hours.  I spoke with complete knowledge of the evidence, and with total honesty.
 
HISTORY

Novartis hired me at the end of 2001 as one of their many sales representatives.  At that time, I had already worked for two of the top pharmaceutical corporations in the world, which were Merck and Pharmacia Corporation.  The game is the same no matter which pharmaceutical corporation one may work for as a sales representative. 
 
That game, as a pharmaceutical representative, is bribing doctors: hiring doctors to be on the payroll of the pharmaceutical corporation.
 
In the years I worked for Novartis, I received above average raises yearly.  I received numerous awards from Novartis.  I was very well liked and respected.  Novartis gave me a company car, I normally only worked half-days.  I was viewed as an expert as a pharmaceutical sales representative.  I was often asked to train other new sales representatives.  This was vocational bliss.
 
So, why would I even consider reporting wrongdoing by them, if they treated me so well?  Was I insane?
 
WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION

In the year 2003, I discovered CafePharma.  CafePharma is basically an online venting board for pharmaceutical representatives.  Such representatives who post on this board often do so with overt anger and disgust.  My uneasiness about bribing doctors was validated by what  representatives from many pharmaceutical companies wrote on this board.  The money we paid targeted doctors are kickbacks.  By paying such doctors, we as sales representatives are violating the federal anti-kickback statute.
 
As sales reps with large pharmaceutical corporations, the more doctors you acquire n your territory, the more you assure your career with your employer.  You are told ad nauseum by your employer to seek and pay targeted doctors. 
 
With Novartis, they took things a step further:  They sent instructions to their sales force to remind doctors paid by representatives that they are obligated to prescribe Novartis pharmaceuticals whenever possible.  This, of course, potentially clouds the clinical judgments of such doctors, and as a result, adversely affects the restoration of health obligated by the health care provider.
 
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(Younger days)

The year now was 2004, and I had had enough.  I had enough of Novartis threatening the members of their sales force.  Each representative was given a promotional budget.  Often, this budget was several thousand dollars per month.  The unspoken rule was, each representative has to spend all their budget, or else. It was this year I started to read books written by those experts critical of the pharmaceutical industry.  I began to become very uncomfortable about the industry I represented.
 
Also, in 2004, I started to collect evidence in the form of internal documents- accessible only to Novartis employees, and not intended to be viewed by others.  Documents illustrating the coercion by Novartis to its sales force to spend their promotional budgets.  Documents in the form of emails by upper management- indicating the need to enforce quid pro quo- to acquire and keep targeted doctors on the payroll of Novartis.  Documents instructing the sales force to sell a promoted drug for a use not indicated by the food and drug administration.
 
SPLIT PERSONALITY

At this time, I suffered from pharmaceutical representative schizophrenia.  One personality of me I expressed was the perfect sales representative, who always spent the promotional budget, and became elated at hearing that various disease states for which the promoted products would treat were expected to increase.  The one who acquired and hired doctors targeted by Novartis.  The one who believed in bribing and threatening doctors on the payroll of Novartis. 
 
The other personality I represented quietly was the one who had a need to report this wrongdoing by my employer.  My real personality.
 
The year 2005 approached, and I continued to collect evidence in the form of Novartis internal documents.  By the end of 2005, My whistle blower personality was dominating my existence.  I became vocal about my unease with what we were being told to do by Novartis as sales representatives.  I deliberately dug my own employment grave with Novartis.
 
In the Spring of 2006, I was ostracized by Novartis, due to what I expressed about the illegal nature of my job.  Days after the whistle blower lawsuit was filed in Boston, I was terminated. .  I expected to be terminated, at that point.
 
In 2007 and 2008, I discovered that no corporation would hire me.  No large corporation.  It is as if potential employers were aware that I blew the whistle against Novartis.  There is a system within the Department of Justice called the PACER system, I believe.  It records all who file such lawsuits as I filed via my legal counsel.  And it's accessible to anyone.  In these years, I acquired employment by two very small pharmaceutical companies, but the pay was next to nothing.  I was laid off in the Spring of 2008 by one of them, and that was the official end of my career as a pharmaceutical sales representative.
 
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO INTERVENE
 
In the Spring of 2009, my whistle blower lawsuit was unsealed by the D.O.J., and, even though the evidence I presented was overwhelming, the government did not intervene in the case that I filed.  I suspect that Novartis bribed the D.O.J. not to intervene.  There is a pathologically intimate relationship between corporations and the U.S. government- their collusion is expressed in the revolving door. 
 
Of all large pharmaceutical corporations, and the settlements they have paid for wrongdoing identical to what I discovered and presented to the D.O.J. with Novartis, Novartis has paid the least amount over the years.
 
A study of 233 whistleblowers was conducted years ago, to explore the effect on one who blows the whistle on a corporation.  Their findings:
 
The average whistle blower is a man in his 40s with a strong conscience and high moral values.  I was near the age of 40 when I became a whistle blower.
 
After blowing the whistle, 90 percent of whistle blowers were fired or demoted.  27 percent faced lawsuits themselves.  26 percent had to seek psychiatric or physical care.  25 percent suffered substance abuse.  17 percent lost their homes.  15 percent experienced divorce.  10 percent attempted suicide.  8 percent were bankrupt.  But in spite of all of this, only 16 percent said they would not blow the whistle again.
 
The only effect I did not experience with this study above is facing any lawsuits.

No, I do not regret what I did.  I would most certainly do it again.  That lawsuit I filed is public record. I've applied for hundreds of jobs - jobs I'm most qualified to perform.  And no one replies.  The job I have now, setting up greeting card displays, they hired me out of desperation.  It's low paying and very physically demanding. 

After whistle blowing, I was abandoned by my own family and friends back home in Missouri.  No one could comprehend why I did it.  All they know is that I intentionally lost a very good job.  My ex-wife said all this to me weeks after learning I would not receive a settlement for this lawsuit. She then used a phony "abuse" charge to jail and clean me out. They all treated me great when I was middle class, these family members and close friends.  Once I became unemployed, they disowned me. 

 I miss the lifestyle I once had with the money and all.  But I'm a better person I feel without that life.  A much better person.  So I'll likely never have that life again.  What I'd like is a book contract.  That would get me out of poverty.  Right now I'm about trying to survive and doing good for others in some way. And I'd like to find a girl possibly w
 
RECALLING THE GOOD TIMES? 

When I was a pharmaceutical rep, I wore thousand-dollar suits. I got company cars.  Often I'd take doctors out to very expensive steak dinners and things like that.  Limousines would pick me up at airports when I'd fly to meetings.  I've lost that life somewhat intentionally.  It is as if I've been teleported to this parallel universe where now I try to simply survive every day.  Yet, I'm much more awake in this universe.  I am very thankful for that.
 
At times I feel as if I'm living on borrowed time.  By some estimates I should be dead. Yet I continue to love and protect others.  That keeps me going- having others to sustain me in some way.  And I feel I sustain them one way or another.  They are beautiful souls these people.  We do not judge each other.
 
Severe parental alienation is also occurring.  I have a 16-year old daughter in Missouri who I've not see or spoken to in years.  I hand write her beautiful letters every week, and I mail these letters to her with beautiful cards to my ex in law's house, because I have no idea where my daughter lives now.  She does get these letters but she does not write me back or contact me.  This is a constant pain in my life.
 
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Often I go to food pantries so I can eat.  I do get food stamps, but I sell these to a friend for extra money so I can pay bills.  Also, I shovel snow in the winter so I can keep this apartment  I always try to make extra money.
 
SOUL TO THE FORE

There is no atrophy of my essence.  My soul remains on fire always.  If I do get knocked down, I always get back up.  I was recently beat up at a bus stop here in Milwaukee.  Considering the trauma I've experienced in my life, this beating did not phase me much.  My jaw was broken.  I never fell when I was hit a few times at this bus stop by a very large black man.
 
When I don't work, I normally go to this VA hospital to see friends and use their computer.  This is where I'm at now.  Near there is a coffee house for veterans.  I also go there to use their computer and see more friends.  You see, I really do not like being alone at all.
 
I have post traumatic stress disorder.  Among other symptoms, I often experience nightmares normally involving my ex wife and daughter.  People really need to explore intrinsic pain more then they do.  High anxiety complicates my situation by the way.  I'm never at peace.  And I never sleep well.
 
While I'm suicidal at times, I'm overall very optimistic with my life- this life of struggle and striving to survive.  This is for really two main reasons.  First one is I'm somehow very healthy physically.  When I work, I often lift and move thousands of pounds of equipment.  And I never sweat.  I have no pain and no fatigue.  

At the age of 48, I could easily compete with any 20 year old at this time.  I often walk miles every day because I do not have a car.  Again no fatigue.  No pain.  My last physical revealed no issues physically whatsoever.  I'm very thankful for my present condition, but I'm very amazed I'm this healthy all things considered.
 
Second reason I remain optimistic is that I appear to be very likable.  You would think I'd be very angy and bitter considering all that has happened to me.  But I'm not at all.  My disposition remains pleasant.  I hit it off with strangers.  And I have solid relationships with friends in this city right now.
 
So try and remember this:   What does not kill you in life really does make you stronger.  Often much stronger.  I'm living proof of this.

-----





Dan Abshear is the author of "Living in a Car After False DV Charges"
-------- Hitting Bottom - A Personal Story
 



Scruples - the game of moral dillemas

Comments for "Big Pharma Whistle Blower Fell on Hard Times "

Robert K said (December 28, 2021):

"...in spite of all of this, only 16 percent said they would not blow the whistle again"

Maybe because nothing can substitute for being at peace with your own conscience and in an honest relationship with your fellow man (even if many are too blinded by service to Mammon to appreciate it).


KM said (December 28, 2021):

I am not surprised that Dan's life was destroyed because that is what the dark side does. My son was in that business and he just quit because of the corruption. He has yet to find a job that pays as well but he is happier. What would I do, well you never know until you are in that situation but I am pretty sure I would do what Dan did.

Would you please let him know that a lot of what has happened in the past is coming to a close. Things will start to get better and better for the whole world. Tell him I am praying for him. How unfair his ex is in poisoning his daughter's mind. One day, hopefully, the daughter will grow up and and get her head out of her a s.

Please give him this web site for him to read as to what is coming down the pike in the near future. This will give him hope.
https://roserambles.org/2021/10/06/nesara-gesara-explained-in-great-detail-october-6-2021/

God is in charge.


JG said (February 1, 2021):

I saw a shocking documentary on one of the pharmaceutical giants about a year ago that peddled a lot of pain killers to the doctors.They had the doctors change the recommended use of these pain killers from severe pain to moderate pain to increase their sales. The doctors were bribed with money that was listed as fees for paid speaking engagements that never happened.

The real shocker was the people they hired as their pharmaceutical reps. Some weren't college educated or had much knowledge of medicine at all. The regional manager for this company was a former stripper from Miami who was now making mega dollars with this company. The whistleblower on the documentary when asked about this said they hired these kind of people because they believed they didn't have much of a conscience.


Jeff said (September 28, 2010):

The article sheds light on a basic truth of the pharmaceutical industry. Money is the bottom line, not the publics health. Anyone who has done even a minimal amount of research, or who has personal experience in these matters, knows that the system is beyond corrupt. The unethical bribing of doctors, pharma companies conducting their own drug trials, the complete cover up and lies surrounding adverse reactions (vaccines are only the tip of the iceberg) and long term harm caused by some of these drugs, the inefficacy and fraud associated with many generic medications, the absolutely disgusting and unethical television commercials promoting some of these drugs...all are symptoms of an industry ruled by greed and indifference instead of a commitment to the ideals of the health profession. And this is all happening with the complicity of the FDA. Please do not be fooled into thinking that the FDA is looking out for your health. They are not. They are in bed with Big Pharma, just as they are in bed with Big Agriculture.

I have known several people that have been pharmaceutical reps at some point in their life, and just like the author of your article, they became so disgusted with the realities of their profession they simply walked away. The money simply wasn't worth being a part of this shameful industry.


WG said (September 28, 2010):

I found this article to be quite interesting, I've had an inkling for years that such things were going on. When one of my mother's Dr's put in a special entry door to their back office, "For Pharmaceutical Reps Only" I knew something was up. I refuse to deal with any Physician who deals drugs in this fashion.

It's sad but typical that the government regulators who are supposed to "protect" us, do nothing to truly do so. It is my opinion these Whistleblowers should be rewarded in some way not chastised. I find it unconscionable the way these corporations operate, with profit as their only goal.

Many thanks to this brave person who risked so very much out of conscience, and high moral standards. He is the kind of ethical person we need more of in government.


Ty said (September 28, 2010):

According to Mr. Abshear, the average whistle blower is a man in his 40's. Yet the Time Magazine Persons of the Year cover depicts three women. I suppose male whistle blowers are perhaps too passe for a magazine as progressive as Time. It's very interesting and speaks volumes. Save the Males...


Henry Makow received his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Toronto in 1982. He welcomes your comments at